I don't know about the rest of the same-old people, but I got tired of posting the same-old ethernet stuff over and over, so I added the code to the playground (wiki).http://playground.arduino.cc/Code/WebClienthttp://playground.arduino.cc/Code/WebServerSThttp://playground.arduino.cc/Code/FTPIf my experience is any indication of the effectiveness, the ethernet questions posted in the networking section has dropped way off. Maybe that is just coincidence?

That's what I was talking about. As mentioned, the problem with the Playground is, it's not well-organized for finding things. Eg, if I printed the Interfacing with Hardware main page, it would take 54 sheets of paper. I usually use the Find menu on my browser to find anything on that page. It would take me some time just to locate your 3 pages referenced here.

Also, most of the links on Playground are links to other websites and specific projects. Maybe all that would be needed is to reorganize the Playground idea to include a section on Forum troubleshooting posts.

Seriously I think the majority of raw inexperianced beginners coming here asking something about their brand new arduino board and problems they are having will always prefer the more personal touch of a 'tailored' response. Heck many don't even know what to actually ask other then what could cause the symptom they are seeing. Telling them to RTFM or check out the stickies, or it's in the arduino playground somewhere is probably not their first choice of help they are looking for.

The usefulness of a good troubleshooting, or getting started, or tips and hints wiki could be a very effective tool for the arduino community to have at their disposal. But based on what I've seen of the quality and usefulness of the Arduino playground, I still think it would be a hard project to develop and maintain long term to any decent level of quality. So much changes quickly in the Arduino hardware and software world that archived data ages rather poorly. But that's not to discourage anyone taking a lead in trying to do it.

As far as the personal burden for posters responding to repeated posting to new people for old known problems or solutions, I think if it was actually a burden then they wouldn't be doing it would they? No one is paid here to post or even moderate the forum and we all use the site as we wish. So I'm not quite sure what problem you are actually trying to solve? I reserve the right to determine what is or is not a personal burden to myself.

Win XP, sp 3. I just tried it again, and this time it found the correct com port. So it only seems to fail _sometimes_, depending on the ambient temperature and phase of the moon, or something.

But if I have continuing problems, I'll start another thread, rather than hijack this one. Thanks for your response, but my question in the context of this thread was rhetorical, intended as a clever ironic device. But I've found that doesn't work every time, either.